JVTilitary (jrder 



-HH- 



of the 



Joyal Tegioif 



of %t}C 



-^^ 


United S^t^s 


COMMANDERY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 




ymssmsM 

WAR PAPER 4(. 



9 Rtiarqe at [^ort yoqelsor], pebruarij 
1§, 1862. 



Military ©rder of tl7e bo^cil be^ion 



United States. 



dOMMANDEl^y OF THE Dl^TI^IdT OF COLUpii\. 



WAR PAPERS. 
41 

^ dKarge at Tori ©enelsoR, 'February 15, i862. 

Prepared by Companion 
First Lieutenant 

JOHN G. GREENAWALT, 

Late U. S. V., 

AND 

READ AT THE STATED MEETING OF APRIL 2, 1902, 



in Hl^ 



'-X'lO 



^ iKIiavgeat |ovtf oucbon,|cbvmivi| 15, 1862. 



PREFACE. 

The success of the Unian forces at Fort Donelson, Tennes- 
see, February i2-:6, t86,;2, was momentous. A full history 
or detailed narrative of the battle, aside from the official 
reports, has not been published. The reports appearing in 
the published Official Records of the War of the Rebellion are 
quite voluminous, especially so on the Confederate side; the 
latter showing much contention, crimination and re-crimina- 
tion between the civil officers and the military leaders of the 
Confederacy in command, as to the blame for, and cause of, 
the downfall of that stronghold. 

A later chapter in this controversy is found in a life of the 
noted Confederate cavalry leader. General N. B. Forrest, 
written by Dr. John A. Wyeth (a Confederate soldier cap- 
tured at Donelson), published in 1899. The chaj^ter on 
Donelson is mainly in explanation of the circumstances under 
which General (then Colonel) Forrest got away with his cavalry 
in company with Generals Floyd and Pillow, after the mem- 
orable midnight conference of February 15, at which Floyd 
turned the command over to Pillow, who in turn relinquished 
it to General S. B. Buckner, after which they stole awav in 
the night, leaving the task of surrender at daylight to General 
Buckner. 

Dr. Wyeth, in his book, comments on the loss of Donelson 
to the Confederate cause as follows : 



"The struggle at Donelson was the first decisive battle of 
the Civil War. The Confederate historian will yet decide 
that in shaping events which, step by step, wrought the down- 
fall of the Southern Coalition, Fort Donelson stands pre- 
eminent. It was a blow which staggered the Confederacy, 
and from which it is safe to say it never wholly recovered." 

My paper relates to a single incident in the engagement, 
embodying some personal observations and experiences as a 
private in the ranks of the Second Iowa Infantry. 



A CHARGE AT DONELSON. 

My story this evening relates to the surrender of Fort Donel- 
son, Tenn., February i6, 1862, but more particularly to the 
part taken in the engagement by the Second Iowa Infantry 
in a charge made resulting in the occupation of the outer 
entrenchments of the enemy on their extreme right the after- 
noon of the 15th. 

General Grant, in a congratulatory order dated February 
17, 1862, said: "The victory achieved at Fort Donelson is not 
only great in breaking down rebellion, but has secured the 
greatest number of prisoners of war ever taken in one field 
on this continent. Fort Donelson will hereafter be marked 
in capitals on the maps of our united country." 

Undoubtedly as the year 1862 dawned there was a feeling 
of uncertainty, if not to say despondency, among the loyal 
people of the North over the military situation, and of anxiety 
as to the future. The severity of the winter and effects of 
exposure of our troops in the field, illy prepared as they were for 
such hardships and exposures — as well as the rather negative 
results achieved during the preceding summer and fall — caused 
these sentiments to exist; and the people at home, as well as 
the forces at the front, were eagerly expectant as to the spring 
campaigns contemplated, as the opening months of the new 
year progressed. 

A brief review of the military situation in Kentucky and 
Tennessee at this period will be of interest in connection with 
my story. On the Confederate side the possession of these 
States was early deemed of vital importance. This fact was 
clearly evidenced by their early occupation and the prepara- 
tions made to hold them. Starting at Columbus, Ky., oppo- 



site Belmont, Mo., on the Mississippi river, they had erected 
and were constantly constructing a line of offensive and de- 
fensive works extending southeastward into the mountains 
of East Tennessee. The most important of these were at 
Columbus, Mill Spring, Bowling Green, Ivy., and Forts Henrv 
and Donelson — guarding, respectively, the Tennessee and 
Cumljerland rivers, and Nashville, in Tennessee. 

On the Union side General Buell, with headquarters at 
Louisville, had his four divisions, under Generals Mitchell, 
McCook, Thomas and Crittenden, thrown forward in Ken- 
tucky, confronting the lines of the Confederates. From 
Cairo, 111., General Grant was deploying his forces, McCler- 
nand's towards Columbus, Paine in the direction menacing 
New Madrid, Mo., while Smith moved from Paducah, Kv. 
These feints perplexed the Confederates, and concealed the 
real intentions of the Union commanders. 

It has been aptly stated by historians that it was the in- 
tention of the Confederate leaders to make Kentucky a battle- 
ground in the West as Virginia was already destined to l)e in 
the East. A glance at the map will disclose what a gatewav 
Kentucky and Tennessee was to the southern and eastern 
States of the Confederacy. Forming in themselves a rich 
agricultural region, in front of them they had resources in 
view comprising not only great and well stocked farming com- 
munities l)ut rich cities as well. So, as stated in this brief 
general way, we find the Union and Confederate forces confront- 
ing in the two States named, and hastily passing, we may note 
the opening engagement of the new year in the attack u])on 
General Humphrey Marshall, and the com])lete rout of his 
forces January jo, 1862, at Prestonburg, Ky., by the troops 
under Colonel James A. Garfield, which success earned the 
latter his general's stars. On January 19, General George 



H. Thomas obtained a signal victory and one of the most 
important achievements of the war, at that period, at Mill 
Spring, Ky. 

About this time or a little later, under the accepted axiom 
of war to strike the enemy's center. General Grant, whose 
district had been enlarged to include among other territory 
Kentucky, west of the Cumberland river, commenced con- 
centrating his forces chiefiy at Cairo, ill., and Paducah, Ky., 
and prepared to move on Fort Henry on the Tennessee. On 
February 6th this work succumbed to the assaults of the 
" Iron-clads," or what was then known as the "Western Gun 
Boat Flotilla," under the command of Commodore Andrew 
Hull Foote. The land forces did not arrive in time to co- 
operate, owing to the nearly impassable roads and the early 
reduction of the batteries of the fort by the iron-clads. On 
February 12th, following. General Grant moved on Donel- 
son, twelve miles distant across the country on the Cumber- 
land river. 

The Compte de Paris, in his memoirs of the Rebellion, says: 
"The importance of Donelson after the fall of Fort Henry 
was equally appreciated by both the Federal and Confederate 
forces, as that fort alone was able to stop Federal forces on 
the Cumberland, and protect the capital of Tennessee." 

Situated on the west bank of the Cumberland river this fort 
was the most important stronghold of the Confederates in the 
West. It was intended to check advances upon Nashville by 
way of that river. The country in the vicinity is much broken 
by hills and gullies and several small streams. The fort 
proper was built upon the highest hill on the river, near Dover, 
the country town of Stewart county, Tennessee. General 
Albert S.Johnston stated in his report explaining the surrender : . 
" 1 determined to fight for Nashville at Donelson. and have the 



8 



best part of my army there to do it." It is conceded that 
the defenders of the fort numbered upwards of 18,000 troops. 

Again, I quote the Compte de Paris: 

"The attack of General Grant upon an entrenched enemy 
was a bold movement. His army hastily recruited was illy 
supplied; many regiments were without necessary equipments 
for a winter campaign even in that latitude. In this condi- 
tion the Union forces were about to attack an enemy equal 
in numbers, posted inside of works carefully constructed, and 
controlling the river which secured his communications and 
bases of supplies. But General Grant knew what he could 
expect from the hardy men of the West who composed his 
army." 

General McClernand's division began the assault on Feb- 
ruary 13th, on our right, and gained positions of importance 
with a considerable loss. During the night of the 13th, General 
Lew Wallace arrived from Fort Henry with his division, and 
was assigned to the center of the line of investment. The 
fighting on the right again assumed the proportions of a battle, 
and the gunboats, under Flag Officer Foote, commenced the 
attack on the rebel water batteries, but were repulsed after a 
brief engagement. 

The forces of General Grant which he brought from Fort 
Henry and Llie Tennessee were augmented on the 14th of 
February by troops sent up the Cumberland, and this date 
brought the regiment, to which I belonged, upon the scene. 

The Second Iowa Infantry, commanded by Colonel James 
M. Tuttle, had been mustered in in May, 1861. We had first 
guarded the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad, being stationed at 
St. Joseph, Mo. In July, 1861, we went to Birds Point, oppo- 
site Cairo, Illinois; from thence to Kentucky, and bv fall the 
regiment had become greatly decimated 1)\- disease. Ordered 



to St. Louis late in the fall, we were first fjuartered at Benton 
Barracks, and later placed on duty guarding Confederate 
prisoners confined in the McDowell Medical College Building, 
in the city of St. Louis. On February loth we were ordered 
to reinforce General Grant, and embarked on the steamer 
Mcijill, reaching Fort Donelson on the morning of the 14th 
by the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland rivers. Dis- 
embarking, we marched back to the line of investment where 
the regiment was assigned to the Fourth Brigade, commanded 
by Colonel J. G. Lauman, of the Seventh Iowa, thus com- 
prising the Second, Seventh, and Fourteenth Iowa, the Twentv- 
fifth Indiana, and a part of Birge's Western Sharp-shooters. 
This brigade was attached to the second division com- 
manded by General Charles F. Smith, which occupied the ex- 
treme left of our lines. 

During the day of the 14th the weather turned cold, and in 
the evening rain followed by sleet and snow set in, and we 
spent a night of great suffering and hardship to the whole army. 
Hidden from the enemy Ijy a narrow strip of woods only, 
our camp and lines within musket-fire of the rebel entrench- 
ments, and without tents or blankets (which had been left on 
the boat), with here and there a small sheltered fire behind 
some favorable rise of ground for protection alone, we spent a 
dismal night. The morning of the 1 5th broke at last, clear and 
cold, but none too soon for the little comfort we were able to 
obtain by moving about in the light of day. While break- 
fasting on hardtack and coffee, the fierce fighting on our right 
indicated that the contending forces were again engaged. As 
the hours advanced the firing increased and the booming of 
artillery presaged a general engagement in that quarter. It 
was subsequently learned that General Pillow had sallied from 
his works attacking McClernand's division. After continuing 



lO 



the fight for some hours, pressed by superior numbers the 
Union forces fell back. General Lew Wallace, however, sent 
a ])ortion of his division from the right center to aid ; the enemy 
was driven back, and by noon the positions of the morning 
had been regained by General McClernand's forces. 

This was the situation on the right and center, about noon, 
or a little later, of the 15th. We on the left only knew of the 
l)attle on our right from the rattle of musketry and booming of 
artillerv. What the losses or who the victors we could only 
conjecture from the incomplete stories of the wounded who 
came within our camp, and the passing stragglers, whose tales, 
as usual, were dire rumors of repulse, defeat and disaster. 
Still no orders came to us except to keep near the camp, and 
we gathered closer to our lines of stacked guns. 

We had, as a regiment, been in service nearly nine months. 
We were well drilled, fortunately for what was to follow, but 
liad never been under fire. We had drilled and marched, 
(lug rifle-pits and thrown up entrenchments, had confidence 
in our officers, as well as a strong reliance upon our organiza- 
tion; but as the time passed and noon came and the engage- 
ment on the right seemed to lull, we began to fear — and this 
was an expression heard from many — that the battle would 
be over and won — for we seemed to have no misgiving for 
the ultimate outcome — before we had a chance to participate 
in it, as we desired in the ardor of our young military career. 

But we got into it that afternoon, and on the morning of 
the 16th the Second Iowa stood at the head of the army inside 
the works. 

About two o'clock, or a little later, that Saturday afternoon, 
wliilc under arms but standing at ease in line alert, to every 
move, eagerly expectant that we would at last be ordered into 
the battle, the sounds of which on our right had ominously 



II 



ceased, we observed General Smith with several of liis staff 
ride up to our Colonel, and as we took our guns, dressed our 
lines and saluted the division commander, he made a brief ad- 
dress — more an order than a speech ; it im|)ressed us intenselv ; 
saying he had selected our regiment to lead a charge upon 
the enemy's works; he told us to rel_\' upon the bayonet and 
not to fire a shot until the enemy's works were reached and 
ids lines broken. 

General Charles F. Smith, a graduate of West Point in 1825, 
had then seen thirty-seven years continuous service in the 
army; he was a fine looking man and a brilliant officer. If 
we had had any lingering doubts of possible defeat in the 
assault that was to come they were dispelled by his action 
and manner as he emphasized his former conmiand, "Second 
Iowa, you must take the fort, take the caps off your guns, fix 
bayonets, and I will lead you!" He electrified us by his words 
and example, and we were ready to follow him over the en- 
trenchments or wherever he might lead. As he rode his 
horse attended by several of his staff he was a most soldierlv 
figure — a leader wdio inspired us with the greatest admiration. 

We stood in line some little time while the disposition of 
other troops and supporting columns was arranged for the as- 
sault, and during those moments (expressing mv own feelings) 
I think w^e were animated, perhaps with every emotion of the 
human mind or heart— except that of fear. But, standing 
there in the near presence of certain death to manv, who could 
attempt to portray the sentiments which animated the hearts 
of the officers and men of the regiment? Who will fall ? Will 
I ? ( )f the 630 officers and men who answered for duty at 
roll-call that morning, how many and who will answer, "here! " 
when the roll is called to-morrow morning"" Little was said. 
We stood silently in thought, awaiting the order to advance. 



12 

As I stood in the ranks near the center of Company C, I 
glanced to the right and saw brave, handsome "Jack" Slay- 
maker, our Captain, standing with bowed head. A few 
moments later leading the company up the liill he gave his 
last command on earth. 

A little after three o'clock, General Smith again rode up 
and the command "forward!" came at last. Marching left 
in front until the left wing and colors of the regiment cleared 
a narrow strip of woods which hid us from the enemy's works, 
the command, "1)V the right flank," brought us sfjuarely front- 
ing and in open, view of the Confederate earthworks on the 
brow of the hill, and now 200 yards away the enemy's hrst 
vollevs of fire pass over our heads. We press forward. 
Thev get the range and the shots begin to tell. Between us 
and their fire lay fallen trees and brush, and as we approach 
the earthworks, a wide strip of abattis from timber felled to 
clear their immediate front greatly impeded our progress. The 
works, too, were crested with logs from under which the 
enemv poured their fire. One writer, in describing the charge 
said, " It appeared incredible that troops could go up that hill 
and keep any kind of lines of organization. It looked as if a 
rabbit could scarcely get through the l:)rush and logs, and 
fallen timber, l)ut, broken as the lines often were by such 
obstructions, and the storm of lead poured from the enemy, 
the regiment faltered not, but what was left of it pressed on 
and over the earthworks." 

To let the record speak, I quote also from the official report 
of Gen. Charles F. Smith, as to the charge made by the regi- 
ment and its success. "The Second Iowa was ordered to rely 
on the bayonet and not to fire a shot until the enemy's ranks 
were broken. Right gallantly was the duty performed. The 
left wing of the regiment, under Col. Tuttle, moved steadily 



13 

over the open space down the ravine and up the rough ground 
covered with large timber, in unbroken line, regardless of the 
fire poured into it, and paused not until the enemy broke and 
fled. It was quickly followed by the right wing under Lieut. 
Col. Baker, in the same manner. The movement of this regi- 
ment was a very handsome exhibition of soldierly conduct." 

General W. F. Smith ("Baldy"), writing of this report, 
says, "Words of praise came but seldom from Gen. Smith's 
lips, and those that he bestows on the Second Iowa are bevond 
all price." 

In his full report of the battle. Gen. Grant says: " I ordered 
a charge upon the left with the division under Gen. Charles F. 
Smith, which was most brilliantly executed and gave to our 
arms full assurance of victorv." 

Note the engineering faculty embodied in the words of Gen- 
eral (then Lieut. Col.) James B. McPherson, Gen. Grant's Chief 
Engineer: 

"The news that Gen. Smith had captured the rebel entrench- 
ments on their right, was borne along the lines, cheering and 
stimulating the men. We had secured a key to the enemy's 
position, obtaining a point havmg about as great an elevation 
as any portion of his works and where we could plant our 
artillery." 

Colonel J. D. Webster, Chief of Staff, said: "On the left a suc- 
cessful assault gave us the possession of a position within the 
enemy's lines and opened the way for a still better one, * * * 
and induced the enemy to capitulate on the morning of the 
i6th." 

In forming for the charge the colors were ordered to go with 
the left wing, and retained such position. The story of the color 
guard is interesting, attended as it was with casualties. Color 
Sergeant Doolittle fell early in the charge pierced by four balls. 



14 

Cor])oral Page took the flag but soon fell dead. Corporal 
Churchertook them next and fell with a wound which cost his 
arm. Corporal Weaver next fell mortally wounded, and 
Coqjoral Robinson was next to fall, shot in the face. Corporal 
Twoml)lv seized the flag, was knocked down by a spent ball, 
but, recovering, carried the flag to the end of the fight, the 
onlv man of the color guard on his feet at the close. 

In the charge the regiment was ably supported by the 
Seventh and Fourteenth Iowa, the Twenty-fifth and Fifty- 
second Indiana (the latter temporarily attached to the Fourth 
Brigade under Colonel Lauman). Their losses aggregated 
2 2 killed and 137 wounded. The entire loss of the brigade 
(including 4 killed and 48 wounded of the Fifty-sceond In- 
diana), aggregated 73 killed and 339 wounded, a total of 412. 
Of this number, the Second Iowa lost 20S, over half. 

Fox, in his statistical work citing losses in the Civil War, 
gives the losses of the Second Iowa as 54 killed and died of 
wounds, and 154 wounded in this engagement, a total of 208. 

My comyjanv, "C," with the left wing, lost 29 killed and 
wounded. just as I saw m}' Captain fall I sank down, and 
for the first time realized that the balls were flying pretty 
thick. I heard one or two strike the log I fell on, and only 
remember crawling down on the lower side of it, when all con- 
sciousness passed from me. When I recovered. I found myself 
a half mile in the rear, the surgeon cutting a ball out of my 
right hip. The next morning with other wounded I was 
placed on a boat and sent down the river. 

Earlv on Sundav morning following our assault, those of us in 
the hospital camps heard great and continuous cheering. Start- 
ing on the left the sound gained in volume as it ran along the 
lines to the right. We soon learned the cause of this unusual 
noise from a battle-field at early morn. Fort Donelson had 
surrendered! The victory was ours and was complete. 



15 

The capitulation delivered into our hands, as shown by 
official reports, 14,623 prisoners of war, 65 cannon, 17,000 
muskets, that is to say an entire army with all its eeiuipments. 
Also a large quantity of army stores. Gen. Grant, in his report 
enumerating the captured stores stated that he thought there 
was rice enough to last to the end of the war! 

The victory was of the greatest moment and importance to 
the Union cause, and it was generally celebrated all over the 
north. As stated in a public report, "The moral effect was 
immense. Bull Run was l)lotted out by a victory much 
more hotly contested. It was a terrible blow to the South." 
It caused the hasty evacuation of Bowling Green, Ken- 
tucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, by the Confederate forces, 
and the next stand taken by them was at Shiloh. 

The effect of the victory upon the young soldiery and newlv 
recruited organizations immediately engaged, as well as volun- 
teer troops elsewhere, was valuable in that it gave them con- 
fidence in themselves and their officers. It was about the 
first engagement of the war in which attacking troops assaulted 
the enemy in his own intrenchments. Here fought McCler- 
nand, W. H. L. Wallace, Ransom, Oglesby, Gen. Lew. Wallace, 
names then new and unknown to fame or warfare, afterward 
familiar and renowned in war and peace. The fame of Logan, 
who won military glory at Donelson, which led to future ad- 
vancement in the army and eminence in the political field, 
has only recently been freshened by the dedication to him in 
this city of one of the finest of its many monuments. 

Here, too. Grant added to laurels won at Belmont and Fort 
Henry, and his signal achievement in winning the "uncon- 
ditional surrender of Donelson " had greatly to do with the 
advancement of his career until he became Commander-in-Chief 
of the Army and the victorious general of the Civil War. 

In his report General Grant accorded full credit to Gen. 



i6 



Charles F. Smith for the brilliant work of the division under 
his command. Time does not allow for more than a brief re- 
flection on the career of this officer. It is conceded by mili- 
tary students that had he lived Gen. Charles F. Smith would 
have ranked among the most eminent leaders of the war. 
His early demise after Donelson was a distinct loss to the 
Union Army. 

General W. T. Sherman is on record as saying that "General 
Smith's reputation as a soldier was simply perfect." 

He died at Savannah, Tennessee, April 25, 1862. 

In closing, I may be pardoned for again referring to the 
Second Iowa Infantry. 

Major General Halleck, commanding the department, tele- 
graphed the Adjutant General of Iowa: ; 

"The Second Iowa proved themselves the bravest of the 
brave ; they had the honor of leading the column which entered 
Fort Donelson." 

When the Union Army marched in to take possession, the 
regiment was awarded the post of honor, and with music and 
banners marched at the head of the column. 

My personal connection with the regiment ended with this 
battle. Discharged in July following because of my wound, 
I subsequently served in the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers 
as a lieutenant, which service accords me the favor of address- 
ing you this evening. 

The Second Iowa Infantry won many new honors during 
tlie war. It is included in the 300 regiments recorded as 
having sustained the highest losses in killed and wounded in 
battle in the Civil War. The story of its charge has been told 
by abler pens than mine, but I am proud of my service in it 
as one of the "men behind the guns '" at the taking of Donelson. 

Washington, D. C, 
April 2, 1902. 



LIBRftRY OF CONbREb 



013 701 822^ 




